Match-safe.



Patented Nov. All, 1902..

H. T. HANDLE.

MATCH SAFE. -mflplication med Feb. s, 1902.)

(No Model.)

UNITED STATE-s.

HARRY T. RANDLE, 0F CLAYTON, MlSSOURl.

MATCH-SAFE.

SPEGIFICATIONIforming part of Letters Patent No. *713,1 51, datedNovember 1 1, 1902.

Application filed Fehrua ry 8. 1902. Serial No, 93,198. (No model) To@ZZ wwn/t t may concern:

Be it known that I, HARRY T. RANDLE, a citizen ofthe United States,residing at Clayton, in `the county of St. Louis and State of Missouri,have invented a new and useful Match-Safe, of Which'the following is aspecifieation.-

This invention relates generally to match-- safes, and particularly tothat class wherein an ordinary box of matches is housed within the same.Y

The object of the invention is to present a cheap, thoroughly-efficient,and durable form of match-safe of the character specified, in the use ofwhich waste or loss of matches will be avoided and the certain feedingof the matches to the point of discharge will be et'- fected in a readyand positive manner.

W'ith these and other objects in view, as'

will appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, thesame consists in the novel construction and combination of parts of amatch-safe, as will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanyingr drawings, forming a part of this specification, andin which like numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts, thereis illustrated one form of embodiment of the invention capable ofcarrying the Same into practical operation, it being understood thatthe'elements therein exhibited may be varied or'changedv as to shape,proportion, and exact manner of assemblage without departing from thescope of the invention, and in these drawings- Y f Figure 1 is a view inperspective of a matchsafe characterizing this invention. Fig. 2 is aview in vertical longitudinal section therethrough, showing moreparticularly the manner of supporting a match-box therein.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates the body of the match-safe, and2 the back thereof. The body maybe constructed of any suitable material,preferably of metal, and may be stamped, cast, or otherwise fashioned tothe shape desired, and may or may not be ornamented, as'desired.' uAshere shown, the front 3 of the safeis a solid structure; but, ifpreferred, a panel of glass maybe let into it, thus to expose to ViewtheV name ofthe manufacturer of the box of matches contained in thesal'e, and as this will be obvious de;

tailed illustration thereof is deemed unnecessary. Each side 4 of thesafe is provided with a suitable striking-surface 5, (one only b'ei-ngshown l1erein,) which may be produced by securing a piece of abrasivematerial to the sides or by striking up the metal to present a roughenedfield. The bottom portion of the front is provided with a semicircularrecess 6, through which the fingers of the person removing the matchesfrom the safe will be inserted, and on each side of the opening there isprovided an L-shaped ledge 7, adapted to receive a surplus match, shouldmore than one be removed from the safe, the carrier thus provided beingdisposed close to the bottom of the box and operating to control theescape of matches to the front of the safe and to hold them inparallelism. The bottom Bof the box isin two sections, spaced apart asufficient distance to permit Ainsertion of thefingers in removing thematches, and extends ont some distance. beyond the front of the safe,and has its sides and corners upturned, preferably at right angles tothe front, as at 9, to present a pan, in which the matches will fall,the flanges at thefront of the bottoni operating to prevent matches fromfall- 'ing to the floor.

y The safe-body may be secured in any suitable manner -to the back 2,which latter may be mad'e'of metal, wood, or fibrous material, in thisinstance by being pivoted thereto at the upper rear corners by nails ortacks 10, which latter also serve to hold a cover or lid 11 in position;but it is to be understood that, if preferred, the body of the safe maybe pivoted to the back at its rear bottom portion, as indicated bydotted lines, as at l2, in which case the flanges of the cover 11 willserve to hold the body in Vertical position and against droppingforward. .In use the back will be secured by nails or screws 13 to asuitable support, such as a wall, and being thus rigidly held a matchmay readily be struck upon the surfaces 5 without catching hold of thebody in the act. The attaching means for securing the box in positionwill in use be entirely hidden from view, thus adding to the neat andfinished appearance of the device. Further,V the'body willbe se- IOOcurely held in place against being dislodged if it be roughly grasped,as in the night-time, or be struck, as by a duster.

For table or other uses two of the bodies may be secured to a singleback, in which event the structure will be self-supporting, or, ifpreferred, when two safes are thus assembled they may be mounted upon asuitable pedestal, about which they will revolve.

As herein shown, the bottom 8 occupies a plane at right angles to thefront 3; but it will be obvious that, if preferred, this may slantdownwardly from the back in order to eect proper feeding of the matchestoward the front of the body.

Secured to the back is a stop 14, consisting in this instance of a pieceof wire bent into rectangular form and having its ends inserted in theback, the said stop operating to limit the downward movement of thematch-box 15 and to hold it the proper distance above the bottom of thesafe to insure discharge of all of the contained matches.

While the device is herein shown as combined with a match-box, it is tobe understood that the latter may be omitted and the matches be suppliedin bulk to the safe proper.

In placinga box of matches in the safe the closure at one end of the boxis removed and the box is placed .within the safe with its open endresting upon the stop 14, it being understood, of course, that duringthis operation the body will be swung outward to permit placing of thebox of matches therein, and as soon as the box is positioned Within thesafe the matches will by gravity be fed to the bottom thereof, whencethey may readily be removed. The placing of a full box ot matches withinthe safe not only assures that they will be fed as desired and be heldin parallelism, but also obviates the necessity of removing the matchesfrom the box and feeding them to the safe, in which procedure, unlessgreat care be exercised, some of the matches will not be properly placedwithin the holder, and will thus tend to prevent proper operation of thedevice.

An advantage accruing from having the feed from the bottom of the safeis that it may be placed higher above the floor of the room, and thusmore out of reach of small children. If desired, the body of the safemay be of a size to receive extra large boxes of matches or two or threeof the ordinary sized boxes, in which oase only the box at the front ofthe safe would be opened, the others remaining closed until the rst isexhausted, after which it would be thrust back of the rear box, thus toforce the second box to the front, and soon.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. A match-safe comprising a back, and a body secured thereto andprovided at its lower end with a match-escape opening and with surplusmatch receiving means disposed above the opening.

2. A match-safe comprising a back, and a body secured thereto andprovided at its lower end with a match escape opening havingmatch-retaining means adjacent thereto, and surplus match receivingmeans disposed above the opening.

3. A match-safe comprising a back, a body hinged thereto and providedwith a cover, a match-engaging stop carried by the back, a bottomprovided with a match-escape opening, and with match-retaining means,and surplus match -receiving means disposed above the opening.

4. A match-safe comprsinga back, a body hinged thereto at its upperendand provided with a cover, a match-engagin g stop carried by the back, abottom provided with a matchescape opening and with match -retainingmeans, and surplus-match-receiving means disposed above the opening.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixedmy signature in. the presence of two witnesses.

HARRY T. RANDLE.

Witnesses:

THEO. BAYER, HENRY STERKER.

